SUNSHINEmf 

PAULvL-AUREMCE 
M  ■.-.DUNBAR  ■  ■   >^t- 


Please 

handle  this  volume 

with  care. 

The  University  of  Connecticut 
Libraries,  Storrs 


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GAYLORD  RG 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


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(Uilyiiiii^ 

Lyrics  of 
Sunshine  and  Shadow 

By 

Paul  Laurence  Dunbar 


New   York 

Dodd,  Mead  &  Company 

1907 


Copyright,  1901,  1902,  1903,  1904,  1905, 
By  The  Century  Co. 

Copyright,  1901,  1902,  1903,  1904,  1905, 
By  The  Curtis  Publishing  Company 

Copyright,    1903, 
By  W.   H.   Gannett 

Copyright,    1905, 
By  Dodd,  Mead  and  Company 


TO  MRS.   FRANK  CONOVER 

WITH  THANKS   FOR  HER 

LONG  BELIEF 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

A  Boy's  Summer  Song i 

The    Sand-Man 2 

Johnny   Speaks 3 

Winter  Song 4 

A  Christmas  Folksong 5 

The  Forest  Greeting 7 

The  Lily  of  the  Valley 9 

Encouraged 10 

To  J.  Q II 

Diplomacy      11 

Scamp 12 

Wadin'  in  de  Creek 14 

A  Corn   Song 16 

The  Plantation  Child's  Lullaby 19 

Twilight 21 

Curiosity 21 

Opportunity       24 

Puttin'   the   Baby   Away 26 

The  Fisher  Child's  Lullaby 28 

vii 


Contents 

Faith 29 

The  Farm   Child's  Lullaby 32 

The  Place  Where  the  Rainbow  Ends    ...  34 

Hope 36 

Appreciation      37 

The  Barrier 39 

Day 40 

To  Dan 41 

What's  the  Use 42 

A  Lazy  Day 43 

Advice 44 

Limitations 46 

A  Golden  Day 47 

The  Unlucky  Apple 48 

The  Discovery 49 

Morning 50 

The  Awakening 51 

Love's  Draft 52 

A  Musical 52 

TwELL  DE  Night  is  Pas* 53 

Blue 54 

Dreamin'  Town 55 

Ax  Night .57 

viii 


Contents 

Kidnaped 59 

Compensation 60 

Winter's  Approach 61 

Anchored 62 

The  Veteran 63 

Yesterday  and  To-Morrow 65 

The  Change 66 

The  Chase 68 

Suppose 68 

The  Death  of  the  First  Born 69 

Bein'   Back   Home 71 

The  Old  Cabin 'jz 

Despair 76 

Circumstances  Alter  Cases 76 

Till  the  Wind  Gets  Right 79 

A  Summer  Night 80 

At  Sunset  Time 82 

Night 83 

At  Loafing-Holt 84 

When  a  Feller's  Itching  to  be  Spanked    .    .  86 

The  River  of  Ruin 88 

To  Her 90 

A  Love  Letter 91 


Contents 

After  Many  Days 93 

Liza  May 94 

The  Masters 97 

Trouble  in  de  Kitchen 98 

The  Quilting 100 

Parted loi 

Forever loi 

Christmas 102 

Roses  and  Pearls 104 

Rain-Songs 105 

A  Lost  Dream 105 

A  Song 108 

A  Song 109 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

A  BOY'S  SUMMER  SONG 

>np^IS  fine  to  play 

•*■    In  the  fragrant  hay, 
And  romp  on  the  golden  load; 

To  ride  old  Jack 

To  the  barn  and  back, 
Or  tramp  by  a  shady  road. 

To  pause  and  drink. 

At  a  mossy  brink; 
Ah,  that  is  the  best  of  joy, 

And  so  I  say 

On  a  summer's  day, 
What's  so  fine  as  being  a  boy  ?  Ha,  Ha ! 

With  line  and  hook 

By  a  babbling  brook, 
The  fisherman's  sport  we  ply; 

And  list  the  song 

Of  the  feathered  throng 
That  flit  in  the  branches  nigh. 
I 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

At  last  we  strip 

For  a  quiet  dip; 
Ah,  that  is  the  best  of  joy. 

For  this  I  say 

On  a  summer's  day, 
What's  so  fine  as  being  a  boy  ?  Ha,  Ha ! 


THE  SAND-MAN 

I    KNOW  a  man 
With  face  of  tan, 
But  who  is  ever  kind; 

Whom  girls  and  boys  ^ , 
Leave  games  and  toys 
Each  eventide  to  find. 

When  day  grows  dim. 
They  watch  for  him, 

He  comes  to  place  his  claim; 
He  wears  the  crown 
Of  Dreaming-town ; 

The  sand-man  is  his  name. 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

When  sparkling  eyes 

Droop  sleepywise 
And  busy  lips  grow  dumb; 

When  little  heads 

Nod  toward  the  beds, 
We  know  the  sand-man's  come. 


JOHNNY  SPEAKS 

THE  sand-man  he's  a  jolly  old  fellow. 
His  face  is  kind  and  his  voice  is 
mellow, 
But  he  makes  your  eyelids  as  heavy  as  lead, 
And  then  you  got  to  go  off  to  bed ; 
I  don't  think  I  like  the  sand-man. 

But  I've  been  playing  this  livelong  day; 
It  does  make  a  fellow  so  tired  to  play  ! 
Oh,  my,  I'm  a-yawning  right  here  before 

ma, 
I'm  the  sleepiest  fellow  that  ever  you  saw. 
I  think  I  do  like  the  sand-man. 

3 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


WINTER  SONG 

OH,  who  would  be  sad  tho'  the  sky- 
be  a-graying, 
And  meadow  and  woodlands  are  empty 
and  bare; 
For  softly  and  merrily  now  there  come 
playing, 
The  little  white  birds  thro'  the  winter- 
kissed  air. 

The  squirrel's  enjoying  the  rest  of  the 
thrifty, 
He  munches  his  store  in  the  old  hollow 
tree; 
Tho'  cold  is  the  blast  and  the  snow-flakes 
are  drifty 
He  fears  the  white  flock  not  a  whit 
more  than  we. 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Chorus : 

Then  heigho  for  the  flying  snow ! 
Over  the  whitened  roads  we  go, 

With  pulses  that  tingle, 

And  sleigh-bells  a- jingle 
For  winter's  white  birds  here's  a  cheery 
heigho ! 

A  CHRISTMAS  FOLKSONG 

T^  E  win'  is  blowin'  wahmah, 
-■-^     An  hit's  blowin'  f'om  de  bay; 
Dey's  a  so't  o'  mist  a-risin' 

All  erlong  de  meddah  way ; 
Dey  ain't  a  hint  o'  frostin' 

On  de  groun'  ner  in  de  sky, 
An'  dey  ain't  no  use  in  hopin' 
Dat  de  snow'll  'mence  to  fly. 

It's  goin'  to  be  a  green  Christmas, 

An'  sad  de  day  fu'  me. 
I  wish  dis  was  de  las'  one 
Dat  evah  I  should  see. 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Dey's  dancin'  in  de  cabin, 

Dey's  spahkin'  by  de  tree; 
But  dancin'  times  an'  spahkin' 

Are  all  done  pas'  fur  me. 
Dey's  feastin'  in  de  big  house, 
Wid  all  de  windahs  wide — 
Is  dat  de  way  fu'  people 
To  meet  de  Christmas-tide? 

It's  goin'  to  be  a  green  Christmas, 

No  mattah  what  you  say. 

Dey's  us  dat  will  remembah 

An'  grieve  de  comin'  day. 

Dey's  des  a  bref  o'  dampness 

A-clingin'  to  my  cheek; 
De  aih's  been  dahk  an'  heavy 

An'  threatenin'  fu'  a  week, 
But  not  wid  signs  o'  wintah, 

Dough  wintah'd  seem  so  deah — 
De  wintah's  out  o'  season, 
An'  Christmas  eve  is  heah. 

It's  goin'  to  be  a  green  Christmas, 
An'  oh,  how  sad  de  day! 
6 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Go  ax  de  hongry  chu'chya'd, 
An'  see  what  hit  will  say. 


Dey's  Allen  on  de  hillside, 

An'  Marfy  in  de  plain ; 
Fu'  Christmas  was  like  springtime, 

An'  come  wid  sun  an'  rain. 
Dey's  Ca'line,  John,  an'  Susie, 

Wid  only  dis  one  lef ' : 
An'  now  de  curse  is  comin' 
Wid  murder  in  hits  bref. 

It's  goin'  to  be  a  green  Christmas- 

Des  hyeah  my  words  an'  see ; 
Befo'  de  summah  beckons 
Dey's  many'll  weep  wid  me. 


THE  FOREST  GREETING 

GOOD  hunting! — aye,  good  hunting, 
Wherever  the  forests  call; 
But  ever  a  heart  beats  hot  with  fear, 
And  what  of  the  birds  that  fall? 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Good  hunting ! — aye,  good  hunting, 
Wherever  the  north  winds  blow ; 

But  what  of  the  stag  that  calls  for  his  mate  ? 
And  what  of  the  wounded  doe? 

Good  hunting ! — aye,  good  hunting, 
And  ah !  we  are  bold  and  strong ; 

But  our  triumph  call  through  the  forest  hall 
Is  a  brother's  funeral  song. 

For  we  are  brothers  ever, 

Panther  and  bird  and  bear ; 
Man  and  the  weakest  that  fear  his  face, 

Bom  to  the  nest  or  lair. 

Yes,  brothers,  and  who  shall  judge  us? 

Hunters  and  game  are  we ; 
But  who  gave  the  right  for  me  to  smite  ? 

Who  boasts  when  he  smiteth  me? 

Good  hunting ! — aye,  good  hunting, 

And  dim  is  the  forest  track ; 
But  the  sportsman  Death  comes  striding  on : 

Brothers,  the  way  is  black. 
8 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


THE  LILY  OF  THE  VALLEY 

SWEETEST  of  the  flowers  a-blooming 
In  the  fragrant  vernal  days 
Is  the  Lily  of  the  Valley 

With  its  soft,  retiring  ways. 

Well,  you  chose  this  humble  blossom 
As  the  nurse's  emblem  flower, 

Who  grows  more  like  her  ideal 
Every  day  and  every  hour. 

Like  the  Lily  of  the  Valley 

In  her  honesty  and  worth, 
Ah,  she  blooms  in  truth  and  virtue 

In  the  quiet  nooks  of  earth. 

Tho'  she  stands  erect  in  honor 

When  the  heart  of  mankind  bleeds, 

Still  she  hides  her  own  deserving 
In  the  beauty  of  her  deeds. 

9 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

In  the  silence  of  the  darkness 

Where  no  eye  may  see  and  know, 

There  her  footsteps  shod  with  mercy. 
And  fleet  kindness  come  and  go. 

Not  amid  the  sounds  of  plaudits, 

Nor  before  the  garish  day, 
Does  she  shed  her  soul's  sweet  perfume. 

Does  she  take  her  gentle  way. 

But  alike  her  ideal  flower. 
With  its  honey-laden  breath, 

Still  her  heart  blooms  forth  its  beauty 
In  the  valley  shades  of  death. 


ENCOURAGED 

"D  ECAUSE  you  love  me  I  have  much 

-■^         achieved. 
Had  you  despised  me  then  I  must  have  failed, 

But  since  I  knew  you  trusted  and  believed, 
I  could  not  disappoint  you  and  so  prevailed. 

lO 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


TO  J.  Q. 

WHAT  are  the  things  that  make 
life  bright? 
A  star  gleam  in  the  night. 
What  hearts  us  for  the  coming  fray? 

The  dawn  tints  of  the  day. 
What  helps  to  speed  the  weary  mile? 

A  brother's  friendly  smile. 
What  turns  o'  gold  the  evening  gray  ? 
A  flower  beside  the  way. 


DIPLOMACY 

TELL  your  love  where  the  roses 
blow, 
And  the  hearts  of  the  lilies  quiver. 
Not  in  the  city's  gleam  and  glow, 

But  down  by  a  half-sunned  river. 
II 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Not  in  the  crowded  ball-room's  glare, 

That  would  be  fatal,  Marie,  Marie, 
How  can  she  answer  you  then  and  there  ? 
So  come  then  and  stroll  with  me, 

my   dear, 
Down  where  the  birds  call,  Marie, 
Marie. 

SCAMP 

AIN'T  it  nice  to  have  a  mammy 
Wen  you  kin'  o'  tiahed  out 
Wid  a-playin'  in  de  meddah, 

An'  a-runnin'  roun'  about 
Till  hit's  made  you  mighty  hongry, 

An'  yo'  nose  hit  gits  to  know 
What  de  smell  means  dat's  a-comin' 
F'om  de  open  cabin  do'? 
She  wash  yo'  face, 
An'  mek  yo'  place, 
You's  hongry  as  a  tramp; 
Den  hit's  eat  you  suppah  right  away, 
You  sta'vin'  little  scamp. 

12 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Wen  you's  full  o'  braid  an'  bacon. 

An'  dey  ain't  no  mo'  to  eat, 
An'  de  lasses  dat's  a-stickin' 

On  yo'  face  ta'se  kin'  o'  sweet, 
Don'  you  t'ink  hit's  kin'  o'  pleasin' 

Fu'  to  have  som'body  neah 
Dat'll  wipe  yo'  ban's  an'  kiss  you 

Fo'  dey  lif  you  f'om  yo  cheah? 
To  smile  so  sweet, 
An'  wash  yo'  feet, 

An'  leave  'em  co'l  an'  damp; 
Den  hit's  come  let  me  undress  you,  now 

You  lazy  little  scamp. 


Don'  yo'  eyes  git  awful  heavy. 

An'  yo'  lip  git  awful  slack, 
Ain't  dey  som'p'n'  kin'  o'  weaknin' 

In  de  backbone  of  yo'  back? 
Don'  yo'  knees  feel  kin'  o'  trimbly, 

An'  yo'  head  go  bobbin'  roun', 
.Wen  you  says  yo'  "  Now  I  lay  me,' 

An'  is  sno'in'  on  de  "  down  "  ? 

13 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

She  kiss  yo'  nose, 

She  kiss  yo'  toes, 
An'  den  tu'n  out  de  lamp, 
Den  hit's  creep  into  yo'  trunnel  baid, 
You  sleepy  little  scamp. 


WADIN'  IN  DE  CRICK 

Tn\AYS  git  wa'm  an'  wa'mah, 
^^     School  gits  mighty  dull, 
Seems  lak  dese  hyeah  teachahs 

Mus'  feel  mussiful. 
Hookey's  wrong,  I  know  it 

Ain't  no  gent'man's  trick; 
But  de  aih's  a-callin', 

"  Come  on  to  de  crick/' 

Dah  de  watah's  gu'glin* 

Ovah  shiny  stones, 
Des  hit's  ve'y  singin' 

Seems  to  soothe  yo'  bones. 

14 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Wat's  de  use  o'  waitin', 
Go  on  good  an'  quick: 

Dain't  no  fun  lak  dis  hyeah 
Wadin'  in  de  crick. 


Wat  dat  jay-b'ud  sayin'  ? 

Bettah  shet  yo'  haid, 
Fus'  t'ing  dat  you  fin'  out, 

You'll  be  layin'  daid. 
Jay-bu'ds  sich  a  tattlah, 

Des  seem  lak  his  trick 
Fu'  to  tell  on  folkses 

Wadin'  in  de  crick. 


Wilier  boughs  a-bendin', 

Hidin'  of  de  sky, 
Wavin'  kin'  o'  frien'ly 

Ez  de  win'  go  by, 
Elum  trees  a-shinin', 

Dahk  an'  green  an'  thick, 
Seem  to  say,  "  I  see  yo' 

Wadin'  in  de  crick." 

15 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

But  de  trees  don'  chattah, 

Dey  des  look  an'  sigh 
Lak  hit's  kin'  o'  peaceful 

Des  a-bein'  nigh, 
An'  yo'  t'ank  yo'  Mastah 

Dat  dey  trunks  is  thick 
Wen  yo'  mammy  fin's  you 

Wadin'  in  de  crick. 

Den  yo'  run  behin'  dem 

Lak  yo'  scaihed  to  def, 
Mammy  come  a-flyin', 

Mos'  nigh  out  o'  bref ; 
But  she  set  down  gentle 

An'  she  drap  huh  stick, — 
An,  fus'  t'ing,  dey's  mammy 

Wadin'  in  de  crick. 

A  CORN  SONG 

/^N  the  wide  veranda  white, 
^^      In  the  purple  failing  light, 
Sits  the  master  while  the  sun  is  lowly 
burning ; 

i6 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

And  his  dreamy  thoughts  are  drowned 
In  the  softly  flowing  sound 
Of  the  corn-songs  of  the  field  hands  slow 
returning. 

Oh,  we  hoe  de  co'n 
Since  de  ehly  mo*n; 
Now  de  sinkin'  sun 
Says  de  day  is  done. 

O'er  the  fields  with  heavy  tread, 
Light  of  heart  and  high  of  head, 
Though  the  halting  steps  be  labored,  slow, 
and  weary; 
Still  the  spirits  brave  and  strong 
Find  a  comforter  in  song, 
And  their  corn-song  rises  ever  loud  and 
cheery. 

Oh,  we  hoe  de  co'n 
Since  de  ehly  mo'n; 
Now  de  sinkin'  sun 
Says  de  day  is  done. 

17 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

To  the  master  in  his  seat, 
Comes  the  burden,  full  and  sweet, 
Of  the  mellow  minor  music  growing 
clearer, 
As  the  toilers  raise  the  hymn, 
Thro'  the  silence  dusk  and  dim, 
To  the  cabin's  restful  shelter  drawing 
nearer. 

Oh,  we  hoe  de  co'n 
Since  de  ehly  mo'n; 
Now  de  sinkin'  sun 
Says  de  day  is  done. 

And  a  tear  is  in  the  eye 

Of  the  master  sitting  by, 
As  he  listens  to  the  echoes  low-replying 

To  the  music's  fading  calls 

As  it  faints  away  and  falls 
Into  silence,  deep  within  the  cabin  dying. 

Oh,  we  hoe  de  co'n 
Since  de  ehly  mo'n; 
Now  de  sinkin'  sun 
Says  de  day  is  done. 
i8 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


THE  PLANTATION  CHILD'S  LULLABY 

WINTAH  time  hit  comin' 
Stealin'  thoo  de  night; 
Wake  up  in  the  mo'nin' 

Evah  ting"  is  white ; 
Cabin  lookin'  lonesome 
Stannin'  in  de  snow, 
Meks  you  kin'  o'  nervous, 
Wen  de  win'  hit  blow. 

Trompin'  back  from  feedin'. 

Col'  an'  wet  an'  blue, 
Homespun  jacket  ragged, 

Win'  a-blowin'  thoo. 
Cabin  lookin'  cheerful, 

Unnerneaf  de  do', 
Yet  you  kin'  o'  keerful 

W'en  de  win'  hit  blow. 
19 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Hickory  log  a-blazin' 

Light  a-lookin'  red, 
Faith  o'  eyes  o'  peepin' 

R'om  a  trun'le  bed, 
Little  feet  a-patterin' 

Cleak  across  de  flo' ; 
Bettah  had  be  keerful 

Wen  de  win'  hit  blow. 


Suppah  done  an'  ovah, 

Evah  t'ing  is  still ; 
Listen  to  de  snowman 

Slippin'  down  de  hill. 
Ashes  on  de  fiah, 

Keep  it  wa'm  but  low. 
What's  de  use  o'  keerin' 

Ef  de  win'  do  blow? 

Smoke  house  full  o'  bacon, 
Brown  an'  sweet  an'  good; 

Taters  in  de  cellah, 

'Possum  roam  de  wood ; 

20 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Little  baby  snoozin* 

Des  ez  ef  he  know. 
What's  de  use  o'  keerin' 

Ef  de  win'  do  blow? 


TWILIGHT 

J^T^WIXT  a  smile  and  a  tear, 
■*-        'Twixt  a  song  and  a  sigh, 
'Twixt  the  day  and  the  dark, 
When  the  night  draweth  nigh. 

Ah,  sunshine  may  fade 

From  the  heavens  above, 
No  twilight  have  we 

To  the  day  of  our  love. 

CURIOSITY 

MAMMY'S  in  de  kitchen,  an'  de  do'  is 
shet; 
All  de  pickaninnies  climb  an'  tug  an'  sweat, 
Gittin'  to  de  winder,  stickin'  dah  lak  flies, 
Evah  one  ermong  us  des  all  nose  an'  eyes. 

21 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

"  Whut's  she  cookin',  Isaac?  "     "  Whut's 

she  cookin',  Jake  ?  " 
"  Is  it  sweet  pertaters  ?    Is  hit  pie  er  cake  ?  " 
But  we  couldn't  mek  out  even  whah  we 

stood 
iWhut  was  mammy  cookin'  dat  could  smell 

so  good. 

Mammy  spread  de  winder,  an*  she  frown 

an'  frown. 
How  de  pickaninnies  come  a-tumblin'  down ! 
Den  she  say :  "  Ef  you-all  keeps  a-peepin'  in, 
How  I'se  gwine  to  whup  you,  my !  't  'ill 

be  a  sin! 
Need  n'  come  a-sniffin'  an'  a-nosin'  hyeah, 
'Ca'se  I  knows  my  business,  nevah  feah." 
Won't  somebody  tell  us— how  I  wish  dey 

would ! — 
Whut  is  mammy  cookin'  dat  it  smells  so 

good? 

We  know  she  means  business,  an'  we 

dassent  stay. 
Dough  it's  mighty  tryin'  fuh  to  go  erway ; 

22 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

But  we  goes  a-troopin'  down  de  ol'  wood- 
track 

'Twell  dat  steamin'  kitchen  brings  us 
stealin'  back, 

Climbin'  an'  a-pveepin'  so's  to  see  inside. 

Whut  on  earf  kin  mammy  be  so  sha'p  to 
hide? 

I'd  des  up  an'  tell  folks  w'en  I  knowed 
I  could, 

Ef  I  was  a-cookin'  t'ings  dat  smelt  so  good. 


Mammy  in  de  oven,  an'  I  see  huh  smile; 
Moufs  mus'  be  a-wat'rin'  roun'  hyeah  fuh 

a  mile ; 
Den  we  almos'  hollah  ez  we  hu'ies  down, 
'Ca'se  hit's  apple  dumplin's,  big  an'  fat  an* 

brown ! 
W'en  de  do'  is  opened,  solemn  lak  an'  slow, 
Wisht  you  see  us  settin'  all  dah  in  a  row 
Innercent  an'  p'opah,  des  lak  chillun  should 
W'en  dey  mammy's  cookin'  t'ings  dat 

smell  so  good. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


OPPORTUNITY 

GRANNY'S  gone  a-vlsitin'. 
Seen  huh  git  huh  shawl 
Wen  I  was  a-hidin'  down 

Hime  de  gyahden  wall. 
Seen  huh  put  her  bonnet  on, 

Seen  huh  tie  de  strings, 
An'  Fse  gone  to  dreamin'  now 
'Bout  dem  cakes  an'  t'ings. 


On  de  she'f  behime  de  do' — 

Mussy,  what  a  feas' ! 
Soon  ez  she  gits  out  o'  sight, 

I  kin  eat  in  peace. 
I  bin  watchin'  fu'  a  week 

Des  fu'  dis  hyeah  chance. 
Mussy,  w'en  I  gits  in  daih, 

I'll  des  sholy  dance. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Lemon  pie  an'  gingah-cake, 

Let  me  set  an'  t'ink — 
Vinegah  an'  sugah,  too, 

Dat  '11  mek  a  drink ; 
Ef  dey's  one  t'ing  dat  I  loves 

Mos'  pu'ticlahly, 
It  is  eatin'  sweet  t'ings  an' 

A-drinkin'  Sangaree. 

Lawdy,  won'  po'  granny  raih 

Wen  she  see  de  she'f ; 
Wen  I  t'ink  erbout  huh  face, 

I's  mos'  'shamed  mxyse'f. 
Well,  she  gone,  an'  hyeah  I  is, 

Back  behime  de  do' — 
Look  hyeah !  gran'  's  done  'spected  me, 

Dain't  no  sweets  no  mo'. 

Evah  sweet  is  hid  erway, 

Job  des  done  up  brown ; 
Pusson  t'ink  dat  someun  t'ought 

Dey  was  t'eves  erroun' ; 
Dat  des  breaks  my  heart  in  two. 

Oh  how  bad  I  feel ! 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Des  to  t'ink  my  own  gramma 
B'lieved  dat  I  'u'd  steal ! 


PUTTIN'  THE  BABY  AWAY 

IT  IGHT  of  'em  hyeah  all  tol'  an'  yet 
•■--'  Dese  eyes  o'  mine  is  wringin'  wet; 
My  haht's  a-achin'  ha'd  an'  so', 
De  way  hit  nevah  ached  befo' ; 
My  soul's  a-pleadin',  "  Lawd  give  back 
Dis  little  lonesome  baby  black, 
Dis  one,  dis  las'  po'  he'pless  one 
Whose  little  race  was  too  soon  run." 

Po'  Little  Jim,  des  fo'  yeahs'  ol' 
A-layin'  down  so  still  an'  col'. 
Somehow  hit  don'  seem  ha'dly  faih. 
To  have  my  baby  lyin'  daih 
Wi'dout  a  smile  upon  his  face, 
Wi'dout  a  look  erbout  de  place ; 
He  ust  to  be  so  full  o'  fun 
Hit  don'  seem  right  dat  all's  done,  done. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Des  eight  in  all  but  I  don'  caih, 
Dey  wa'nt  a  single  one  to  spaih ; 
De  worl'  was  big,  so  was  hy  haht, 
An'  dis  hyeah  baby  owned  hit's  paht; 
De  house  was  po',  dey  clothes  was  rough, 
But  daih  was  mieat  an'  meal  enough ; 
An'  daih  was  room  fu'  little  Jim; 
Oh !  Lawd,  what  made  you  call  f u'  him  ? 

It  do  seem  monst'ous  ha'd  to-day, 
To  lay  dis  baby  boy  away ; 
I'd  learned  to  love  his  teasin'  smile, 
He  mought  o'  des  been  lef  erwhile ; 
You  wouldn't  t'ought  wid  all  de  folks, 
Dat's  roun'  hyeah  mixin'  teahs  an'  jokes, 
De  Lawd  u'd  had  de  time  to  see 
Dis  chile  an'  tek  him  'way  f'om  me. 

But  let  it  go,  I  reckon  Jim, 

'11  des  go  right  straight  up  to  Him 

Dat  took  him  f'om  his  mammy's  nest 

An'  lef  dis  achin'  in  my  breas', 

An'  lookin'  in  dat  fathah's  face 

An'  'memberin'  dis  lone  sorrerin'  place, 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

He'll  say,  "  Good  Lawd,  you  ought  to  had 
Do  sumpin'  f u'  to  comfo't  dad !  " 


THE  FISHER  CHILD'S  LULLABY 

THE  wind  Is  out  in  its  rage  to-night, 
And  your  father  is  far  at  sea. 
The  rime  on  the  window  is  hard  and  white 
But  dear,  you  are  near  to  me. 
Heave  ho,  weave  low. 

Waves  of  the  briny  deep ; 
Seethe  low  and  breathe  low, 
But  sleep  you,  my  little  one, 
sleep,  sleep. 

The  little  boat  rocks  in  the  cove  no  more, 

But  the  flying  sea-gulls  wail ; 
I  peer  through  the  darkness  that  wraps 
the  shore, 
For  sight  of  a  home  set  sail. 
Heave  ho,  weave  low, 
28 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Waves  of  the  briny  deep ; 
Seethe  low  and  breathe  low, 
But  sleep  you,  my  little  one, 
sleep,  sleep. 

Ay,  lad  of  mine,  thy  father  may  die 

In  the  gale  that  rides  the  sea, 
But  we'll  not  believe  it,  not  you  and  I, 
Who  mind  us  of  Galilee. 
Heave  ho,  weave  low, 

Waves  of  the  briny  deep ; 
Seethe  low  and  breathe  low. 
But  sleep  you,  my  little  one, 
sleep,  sleep. 


FAITH 

T  'S  a-gittin'  weary  of  de  way  dat  people  do, 
-■-     De  folks  dat's  got  dey  'ligion  in  dey  fiah- 

place  an'  flue; 
Dey's  alius  somep'n  comin'  so  de  spit'll  have 
to  turn, 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

An'  hit  tain't  no  p'oposition   fu'  to  mek  de 

hickory  bu'n. 
Ef  de  sweet  pertater  fails  us  an'  de  go'geous 

yallah  yam, 
We  kin  tek  a  bit  o'  comfo't  f'om  ouah  sto' 

o'  summah  jam. 
Wen  de  snow  hit  git  to  flyin',  dat's  de  Mas- 

tah's  own  desiah, 
De  Lawd'll  run  de  wintah  an'  yo'  mammy'll 

run  de  fiah. 

I  ain'  skeered  because  de  win'  hit  staht  to  raih 

and  blow, 
I  ain't  bothahed  w'en  he  come  er  rattlin'  at 

de  do'. 
Let  him  taih  hisse'f  an'  shout,  let  him  blow  an' 

bawl, 

Dat's  de  time  de  branches  shek  an'  bresh-wood 

'mence  to  fall. 
W'en  de  sto'm  er  railin'  an'  de  shettahs  blowin' 

'bout, 
Dat  de  time  de  fiah-place  crack  hits  welcome 

out. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Tain'  my  livin'   business   fu'   to  trouble  ner 

enquiah, 
De  Lawd'll  min'  de  wintah  an'  my  mammy'U 

min'  de  fiah. 


Ash-cake  alius  gits  ez  brown  w'en  February's 

hyeah 
Ez  it  does  in  bakin'  any  othah  time  o'  yeah. 
De  bacon  smell  ez  callin'-like,  de  kittle  rock 

an'  sing, 
De  same  way  in  de  wintah  dat  dey  do  it  in  de 

spring ; 
Dey  ain't  no  use  in  mopin'  'round  an'  lookin' 

mad  an'  glum 
Erbout  de  wintah  season,  fu'  hit's  des  plumb 

boun'  to  come ; 


An'  ef  it  comes  to  runnin'  t'ings  I's  willin*  to 

retiah, 
De  Lawd'll  min'  de  wintah  an'  my  mammy'U 

min'  de  fiah. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


THE  FARM  CHILD'S  LULLABY 

/^H,  the  Httle  bird  is  rocking  in  the  cradle 
^^      of  the  wind, 

And  it's  bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye ; 
The  harvest  all  is  gathered  and  the  pippins  all 
are  binned ; 
Bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye ; 
The  little  rabbit's  hiding  in  the  golden  shock 

of  corn, 
The  thrifty  squirrel's  laughing  bunny's  idleness 

to  scorn ; 
You  are  smiling  with  the  angels  in  your  slum- 
ber, smile  till  morn ; 
So  it's  bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye. 

There'll   be   plenty   in   the   cellar,   there'll   be 
plenty  on  the  shelf ; 
Bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye ; 
There'll  be  goodly  store  of  sweetings  for  a 
dainty  little  elf; 
Bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

The  snow  may  be  a-flying  o'er  the  meadow  and 

the  hill, 
The  ice  has  checked  the  chatter  of  the  little 

laughing  rill, 
But  in  your  cosey  cradle  you  are  warm  and 

happy  still ; 
So  bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye. 

Why,  the  Bob  White  thinks  the  snowflake  is  a 
brother  to  his  song ; 
Bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye ; 
And  the  chimney  sings  the  sweeter  when  the 
wind  is  blowing  strong ; 
Bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye ; 
The  granary's  overflowing,  full  is  cellar,  crib, 

and  bin. 
The  wood  has  paid  its  tribute  and  the  ax  has 

ceased  its  din ; 
The  winter  may  not  harm  you  when  you're 
sheltered  safe  within ; 
So  bye,  my  little  wee  one,  bye. 


33 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


THE   PLACE   WHERE    THE    RAINBOW 
ENDS 

THERE'S  a  fabulous  story 
Full  of  splendor  and  glory. 
That  Arabian  legends  transcends; 
Of  the  wealth  without  measure, 
The  coffers  of  treasure, 
At  the  place  where  the  rainbow  ends. 

Oh,  many  have  sought  it, 
And  all  would  have  bought  it. 

With  the  blood  we  so  recklessly 
spend ; 
But  none  has  uncovered. 
The  gold,  nor  discovered 

The  spot  at  the  rainbow's  end. 

They  have  sought  it  in  battle, 
And  e'en  where  the  rattle 

Of  dice  with  man's  blasphemy 
blends ; 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

But  howe'er  persuasive, 
It  still  proves  evasive, 

This  place  where  the  rainbow  ends. 


I  own  for  my  pleasure, 
I  yearn  not  for  treasure. 

Though  gold  has  a  power  it  lends ; 
And  I  have  a  notion. 
To  find  without  motion. 

The  place  where  the  rainbow  ends. 

The  pot  may  hold  pottage, 
The  place  be  a  cottage, 

That  a  humble  contentment  defends. 
Only  joy  fills  its  coffer, 
But  spite  of  the  scoffer. 

There's  the  place  where  the  rainbow 
ends. 

Where  care  shall  be  quiet, 
And  love  shall  run  riot. 

And  I  shall  find  wealth  in  my 
friends ; 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Then  truce  to  the  story, 
Of  riches  and  glory ; 

There's  the  place  where  the  rainbow 
ends. 


HOPE 

DE  dog  go  howlin'  'long  de  road, 
De  night  come  shiverin'  down; 
My  back  is  tiahed  of  its  load, 

I  cain't  be  fu'  f'om  town. 
No  mattah  ef  de  way  is  long. 
My  haht  is  swellin'  wid  a  song. 
No  mattah  'bout  de  frownin'  skies, 
I'll  soon  be  home  to  see  my  Lize.   ; 


My  shadder  staggah  on  de  way, 
It's  monstous  col'  to-night; 

But  I  kin  hyeah  my  honey  say 
"  W'y  bless  me  if  de  sight 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

O'  you  ain't  good  fu'  my  so'  eyes." 
(Dat  talk's  dis  lak  my  lady  Lize) 
I's  so'y  case  de  way  was  long 
But  Lawd  you  bring  me  love  an'  song. 


No  mattah  ef  de  way  is  long, 

An'  ef  I  trimbles  so' 
I  knows  de  fiah's  burnin'  strong, 

Behime  my  Lizy's  do'. 
An'  daih  my  res'  an'  joy  shell  be, 
Whaih  my  ol'  wife's  awaitin'  me — 

Why  what  I  keer  fu'  stingin'  bias', 

I  see  huh  windah  light  at  las'. 


APPRECIATION 

MY  muvver's  ist  the  nicest  one 
'At  ever  lived  wiz  folks ; 
She  lets  you  have  ze  mostes'  fun. 
An'  laffs  at  all  your  jokes. 

Z7 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I  got  a  ol'  maid  auntie,  too, 

The  worst  you  ever  saw ; 
Her  eyes  ist  bore  you  through  and 
through, — 

She  ain't  a  bit  Uke  ma. 

She's  ist  as  slim  as  slim  can  be, 
An'  when  you  want  to  slide 

Down  on  ze  balusters,  w'y  she 
Says  'at  she's  harrified. 

She  ain't  as  nice  as  Uncle  ?en, 

What  says  'at  little  boys 
iWon't  never  grow  to  be  big  men 

Unless  they're  fond  of  noise. 

But  muvver's  nicer  zan  'em  all. 
She  calls  you,  "  precious  lamb," 

An'  let's  you  roll  your  ten-pin  ball, 
An'  spreads  your  bread  wiz  jam. 

An'  when  you're  bad,  she  ist  looks  sad. 
You  fink  she's  goin'  to  cry; 

An'  when  she  don't  you're  awful  glad. 
An'  den  you're  good,  Oh,  my! 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

At  night,  she  takes  ze  softest  hand. 

An'  lays  it  on  your  head, 
An'  says  "  Be  off  to  Sleepy-Land 

By  way  o'  trundle-bed." 

So  when  you  fink  what  muwer  knows 

An'  aunts  an'  uncle  tan't, 
It  skeers  a  feller ;  ist  suppose 

His  muwer  'd  been  a  aunt. 


THE  BARRIER 

THE  Midnight  wooed  the  Morning  Star, 
And  prayed  her :  "  Love  come 
nearer ; 
Your  swinging  coldly  there  afar 
To  me  but  makes  you  dearer." 

The  Morning  Star  was  pale  with  dole 

As  said  she,  low  replying: 
**  Oh,  lover  mine,  soul  of  my  soul, 

For  you  I  too  am  sighing." 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

"  But  One  ordained  when  we  were  born, 

In  spite  of  love's  insistence, 
That  night  might  only  view  the  Morn 

Adoring  at  a  distance." 

But  as  she  spoke,  the  jealous  Sun 

Across  the  heavens  panted ; 
"  Oh,  whining  fools,"  he  cried,  "  have 
done. 

Your  wishes  shall  be  granted." 

He  hurled  his  flaming  lances  far ; 

The  twain  stood  unaffrighted. 
And  Midnight  and  the  Morning  Star 

Lay  down  in  death  united. 


DAY 

THE  gray  dawn  on  the  mountain  top 
Is  slow  to  pass  away. 
Still  lays  him  by  in  sluggish  dreams, 
The  golden  God  of  day. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

And  then  a  light  along  the  hills, 
Your  laughter  silvery  gay ; 

The  Sun  God  wakes,  a  bluebird  trills. 
You  come  and  it  is  day. 


TO  DAN 

STEP  me  now  a  bridal  measure, 
Work  give  way  to  love  and  leisure, 
Hearts  be  free  and  hearts  be  gay — 
Doctor  Dan  doth  wed  to-day. 

Diagnosis,  cease  your  squalling — 
Check  that  scalpel's  senseless  bawling, 
Put  that  ugly  knife  away— 
Doctor  Dan  doth  wed  to-day. 

'Tis  no  time  for  things  unsightly. 
Life's  the  day  and  life  goes  lightly; 
Science  lays  aside  her  sway- 
Love  rules  Dr.  Dan  to-day. 

Gather,  gentlemen  and  ladies, 

For  the  nuptial  feast  now  made  is, 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Swing  your  garlands,  chant  your  lay 
For  the  pair  who  wed  to-day. 

Wish  them  happy  days  and  many. 
Troubles  few  and  griefs  not  any. 
Lift  your  brimming  cups  and  say 
God  bless  them  who  wed  to-day. 

Then  a  cup  to  Cupid  daring, 
Who  for  conquest  ever  faring, 
With  his  arrows  dares  assail 
E'en  a  doctor's  coat  of  mail. 

So  with  blithe  and  happy  hymning 
And  with  harmless  goblets  brimming, 
Dance  a  step — musicians  play — 
Doctor  Dan  doth  wed  to-day. 


WHAT'S  THE  USE 

HAT'S  the  use  o'  folks 
a-frownin' 
When  the  way's  a  little  rough? 
42 


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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Frowns  lay  out  the  road  fur  smilin' 
You'll  be  wrinkled  soon  enough. 
What's  the  use? 

What's  the  use  o'  folks  a-sighin'? 

It's  an  awful  waste  o'  breath, 
An'  a  body  can't  stand  wastin' 

What  he  needs  so  bad  in  death. 
What's  the  use? 

What's  the  use  o'  even  weepin'? 

Might  as  well  go  long  an'  smile. 
Life,  our  longest,  strongest  arrow, 

Only  lasts  a  little  while. 
What's  the  use? 

A  LAZY  DAY 

THE  trees  bend  down  along  the 
stream, 
Where  anchored  swings  my  tiny  boat. 
The  day  is  one  to  drowse  and  dream 

And  list  the  thrush's  throttling  note. 
When  music  from  his  bosom  bleeds 
Among  the  river's  rustling  reeds. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

No  ripple  stirs  the  placid  pool, 

When  my  adventurous  line  is  cast, 

A  truce  to  sport,  while  clear  and  cool. 
The  mirrored  clouds  slide  softly  past. 

The  sky  gives  back  a  blue  divine, 

And  all  the  world's  wide  wealth  is  mine. 

A  pickerel  leaps,  a  bow  of  light, 

The  minnows  shine  from  side  to  side. 

The  first  faint  breeze  comes  up  the  tide — 

I  pause  with  half  uplifted  oar, 

While  night  drifts  down  to  claim  the  shore. 


ADVICE 

W'EN  you  full  o'  worry 
'Bout  yo'  wo'k  an'  sich, 
W'en  you  kind  o'  bothered 
Case  you  can't  get  rich. 
An'  yo'  neighboh  p'ospah 

Past  his  jest  desu'ts, 
An'  de  sneer  of  comerds 
Stuhes  yo'  healit  an'  hu'ts, 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Des  don'  pet  yo'  worries, 

Lay  'em  on  de  she'f, 
Tek  a  little  trouble 

Brothah,  wid  yo'se'f. 


Ef  a  frien'  comes  mou'nin* 

'Bout  his  awful  case, 
You  know  you  don'  grieve  him 

Wid  a  gloomy  face, 
But  you  wrassle  wid  him, 

Try  to  tek  him  in ; 
Dough  hit  cracks  yo'  features, 

Law,  you  smile  lak  sin. 
Ain't  you  good  ez  he  is? 

Don'  you  pine  to  def ; 
Tek  a  little  trouble 

Brothah,  wid  yo'se'f. 

Ef  de  chillun  pestahs, 

An'  de  baby's  bad, 
Ef  yo'  wife  gits  narvous. 

An'  you're  gettin'  mad, 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Des  you  grab  yo'  boot-strops, 

Hoi'  yo'  body  down, 
Stop  a-tinkin'  cuss-w'rds. 

Chase  away  de  frown, 
Knock  de  haid  o'  worry, 

Twell  dey  ain'  none  lef ; 
Tek  a  little  trouble, 

Brothah,  wid  yo'se'f. 

LIMITATIONS 

T?  F  you's  only  got  de  powah  fe'  to  blow  a 
•^    little  whistle, 

Keep  ermong  de  people  wid  de  whistles. 
Ef  you  don't,  you'll  fin'  out  sho'tly  dat  you's 
th'owed  yo'  fines'  feelin' 
In  a  place  dat's  all  a  bed  o'  thistles. 
'Tain't  no  use  a-goin'  now,  ez  sho's  you  bo'n, 
A-squeakin'  of  yo'  whistle  'g'inst  a  gread  big 
ho'n. 

Ef  you  ain't  got  but  a  teenchy  bit  o'  victuals 
on  de  table, 
Whut'  de  use  a-claimin'  hit's  a  f eas'  ? 

46 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Fe'  de  folks  is  mighty  'spicious,  an'  dey's  ap' 

to  come  a-peerin', 
Lookin'  fe'  de  scraps  you  lef  at  leas'. 
Wen  de  meal's  a-hidin'  f'om  de  meal-bin's  top, 
You  needn't  talk  to  hide  it;  ef  you  sta'ts,  des 

stop. 

Ef  yo'  min'  kin  only  carry  half  a  pint  o'  com- 
mon idees, 
Don'  go  roun'  a-sayin'  hit's  a  bar'l ; 
'Ca'se  de  people  gwine  to  test  you,  an'  dey'U 
fin'  out  you's  a-lyin', 
Den  dey'll  twis'  yo'  sayin's  in  a  snarl. 
Wuss  t'ing  in  de  country  dat  I  evah  hyahed — 
A  crow  dot  sat  a-squawkin',  "  I's  a  mockin'- 
bird.'^ 


A  GOLDEN  DAY 

T  FOUND  you  and  I  lost  you, 
-*-     All  on  a  gleaming  day. 
The  day  was  filled  with  sunshine. 
And  the  land  was  full  of  May. 

47 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

A  golden  bird  was  singing 

Its  melody  divine, 
I  found  you  and  I  loved  you, 

And  all  the  v^orld  was  mine. 

I  found  you  and  I  lost  you, 

All  on  a  golden  day, 
But  when  I  dream  of  you,  dear. 

It  is  always  brimming  May. 


THE  UNLUCKY  APPLE 

J^TT^WAS  the  apple  that  in  Eden 
-*•        Caused  our  father's  primal 
fall; 
And  the  Trojan  War,  remember — 

'Twas  an  apple  caused  it  all. 
So  for  weeks  I've  hesitated, 

You  can  guess  the  reason  why,  ■ 
For  I  want  to  tell  my  darling 
She's  the  apple  of  my  eye. 


48 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


THE  DISCOVERY 

THESE  are  the  days  of  elf s  and  fays : 
Who   says   that   with   the   dreams   of 
myth, 
These  imps  and  elves  disport  themselves? 
Ah  no,  along  the  paths  of  song 
Do  all  the  tiny  folk  belong. 

Round  all  our  homes, 
Kobolds  and  gnomes  do  daily  cling, 
Then  nightly  fling  their  lanterns  out. 
And  shout  on  shout,  they  join  the  rout, 
And  sing,  and  sing,  within  the  sweet  enchanted 
ring. 

Where  gleamed  the  guile  of  moonlight's  smile, 
Once  paused  I,  listening  for  a  while, 
And  heard  the  lay,  unknown  by  day, — 
The  fairies'  dancing  roundelay. 

49 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Queen  Mab  was  there,  her  shimmering  hair 
Each  fairy  prince's  heart's  despair. 
She  smiled  to  see  their  sparkling  glee, 
And  once  I  ween,  she  smiled  at  me. 

Since  when,  you  may  by  night  or  day, 
Dispute  the  sway  of  elf-folk  gay; 
But,  hear  me,  stay ! 

I've  learned  the  way  to  find  Queen  Mab  and 
elf  and  fay. 

Where  e'er  by  streams,  the  moonlight  gleams, 
Or  on  a  meadow  softly  beams, 
There,  footing  round  on  dew-lit  ground, 
The  fairy  folk  may  all  be  found. 


MORNING 

THE  mist  has  left  the  greening 
plain, 
The  dew-drops  shine  like  fairy  rain. 
The  coquette  rose  awakes  again 
Her  lovely  self  adorning. 
50 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

The  Wind  is  hiding  in  the  trees, 
A  sighing,  soothing,  laughing  tease, 
Until  the  rose  says  "  Kiss  me,  please," 
'Tis  morning,  'tis  morning. 

With  staff  in  hand  and  careless-free, 
The  wanderer  fares  right  jauntily. 
For  towns  and  houses  are,  thinks  he, 

For  scorning,  for  scorning. 
My  soul  is  swift  upon  the  wing. 
And  in  its  deeps  a  song  I  bring ; 
Come,  Love,  and  we  together  sing, 

"  'Tis  morning,  'tis  morning." 


THE  AWAKENING 

I  DID  not  know  that  life  could  be  so  sweet, 
I  did  not  know  the  hours  could  speed  so 
fleet. 
Till  I  knew  you,  and  life  was  sweet  again. 
The  days  grew  brief  with  love  and  lack  of 
pain — 

51 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I  was  a  slave  a  few  short  days  ago, 

The  powers  of  Kings  and  Princes  now  I  know ; 

I  would  not  be  again  in  bondage,  save 

I  had  your  smile,  the  liberty  I  crave. 

LOVE'S  DRAFT 

THE  draft  of  love  was  cool  and  sweet 
You  gave  me  in  the  cup, 
But,  ah,  love's  fire  is  keen  and  fleet. 
And  I  am  burning  up. 

Unless  the  tears  I  shed  for  you 
Shall  quench  this  burning  flame, 

It  will  consume  me  through  and  through, 
And  leave  but  ash — a  name. 

A  MUSICAL 

OUTSIDE  the  rain  upon  the 
street, 
The  sky  all  grim  of  hue. 
Inside,  the  music-painful  sweet. 
And  yet  I  heard  but  you. 
52 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

As  is  a  thrilling  violin, 
So  is  your  voice  to  me, 

And  still  above  the  other  strains, 
It  sang  in  ecstasy. 


TWELL  DE  NIGHT  IS  PAS* 

ALL  de  night    long  twell  de    moon  goes 
•^  ^     down, 

Lovin'  I  set  at  huh  feet. 
Den  fu'  de  long  jou'ney  back  f'om  de  town, 

Ha'd,  but  de  dreams  mek  it  sweet. 

All  de  night  long  twell  de  break  of  de  day, 

Dreamin'  agin  in  my  sleep, 
Mandy  comes  drivin'  my  sorrers  away, 

Axin'  me,  "  Wha'  fu'  you  weep  ?  " 

All  de  day  long  twell  de  sun  goes  down, 

Smilin',  I  ben'  to  my  hoe, 
Fu'  dough  de  weddah  git  nasty  an'  frown, 

One  place  I  know  I  kin  go. 

53 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

All  my  life  long  twell  de  night  has  pas' 

Let  de  wo'k  come  ez  it  will, 
So  dat  I  fin'  you,  my  honey,  at  las', 

Somewhaih  des  ovah  de  hill. 

BLUE 

STANDIN'  at  de  winder, 
Feelin'  kind  o'  glum, 
Listenin'  to  de  raindrops 

Play  de  kettle  drum, 
Lookin'  crost  de  medders 

Swimmin'  lak  a  sea; 
Lawd  'a'  mussy  on  us, 
What's  de  good  o'  me? 

Can't  go  out  a-hoein'. 

Wouldn't  ef  I  could; 
Groun'  too  wet  fu'  huntin', 

Fishin'  ain't  no  good. 
Too  much  noise  fo'  sleepin*. 

No  one  hyeah  to  chat; 
Des  mus'  stan'  an'  listen 

To  dat  pit-a-pat. 

54 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Hills  is  gittin'  misty, 

Valley's  gittin'  dahk; 
iWatch-dog's  'mence  a-howlin', 

Rathah  have  'em  ba'k 
Dan  a-moanin'  solemn 

Somewhaih  out  o'  sight ; 
Rain-crow  des  a-chucklin' — 

Dis  is  his  delight. 

Mandy,  bring  my  banjo, 

Bring  de  chillen  in, 
Come  in  f 'om  de  kitchen, 

I  feel  sick  ez  sin. 
Call  in  Uncle  Isaac, 

Call  Aunt  Hannah,  too, 
Tain't  no  use  in  talkin', 

Chile,  I's  sholy  blue. 

DREAMIN'  TOWN 

COME  away  to  dreamin'  town, 
Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 
Whaih  de  skies  don'  nevah  frown, 
Mandy  Lou ; 

55 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Whaih  de  streets  is  paved  with  goV, 
Whaih  de  days  is  nevah  col', 
An'  no  sheep  strays  f'om  de  fol', 
Mandy  Lou. 

Ain't  you  tiahed  of  every  day, 

Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 
Tek  my  han'  an'  come  away, 

Mandy  Lou, 
To  the  place  whaih  dreams  is  King, 
Whaih  my  heart  hoi's  everything, 
An'  my  soul  can  alius  sing, 
Mandy  Lou. 

Come  away  to  dream  wid  me, 

Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 
Whaih  our  hands  an'  hea'ts  are  free, 

Mandy  Lou ; 
Whaih  de  sands  is  shinin'  white, 
Whaih  de  rivahs  glistens  bright, 

Mandy  Lou. 


S6 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Come  away  to  dreamland  town, 
Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 

Whaih  de  fruit  is  bendin'  down, 
Des  fu'  you. 

Smooth  your  brow  of  lovin'  brown. 

An'  my  love  will  be  its  crown; 

Come  away  to  dreamin'  town, 
Mandy  Lou. 


AT  NIGHT 

WHUT  time  'd  dat  clock  strike? 
Nine  ?     No — eight ; 
I  didn't  think  hit  was  so  late. 
Aer  chew !    I  must  'a'  got  a  cough, 

I  raally  b'lieve  I  did  doze  off — 
Hit's  mighty  soothin'  to  de  tiah, 
A-dozin'  dis  way  by  de  fiah; 
Oo  oom — hit  feels  so  good  to  stretch 
I  sutny  is  one  weary  wretch ! 

Look  hyeah,  dat  boy  done  gone  to  sleep ! 
He  des  ain't  wo'th  his  boa'd  an'  keep; 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I  des  don't  b'lieve  he'd  bat  his  eyes 
If  Gab'el  called  him  fo'm  de  skies ! 

But  sleepin's  good  dey  ain't  no  doubt — 
Dis  pipe  o'  mine  is  done  gone  out. 

Don't  bu'n  a  minute,  bless  my  soul, 
Des  please  to  han'  me  dat  ah  coal. 

You  'Lias  git  up  now,  my  son, 

Seems  lak  my  nap  is  des  begun; 
You  sutny  mus'  ma'k  down  de  day 

Wen  I  treats  comp'ny  dis  away ! 
iW'y,  Brother  Jones,  dat  drowse  come  on, 

An'  laws !    I  dremp  dat  you  was  gone ! 
You  'Lias,  whaih  yo'  mannahs,  suh, 

To  hyeah  me  call  an*  nevah  stuh ! 

To-morrer  mo'nin'  w'en  I  call 

Dat  boy'll  be  sleepin'  to  beat  all. 
Don't  mek  no  diffunce  how  I  roah. 

He'll  des  lay  up  an'  sno'  and  sno'. 
Now  boy,  you  done  hyeahed  whut  I  said. 

You  bettah  tek  yo'se'f  yo  baid. 
Case  ef  you  gits  me  good  an'  wrong 

I'll  mek  dat  sno'  a  diffunt  song. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Dis  wood  fiah  is  invitin'  dho', 

Hit  seems  to  wa'm  de  ve'y  flo' — 
An'  nuffin'  ain't  a  whit  ez  sweet, 

Ez  settin'  toastin'  of  yo'  feet. 
Hit  mek  you  drowsy,  too,  but  La! 

Hyeah,  'Lias,  don't  you  hyeah  yo'  ma? 
Ef  I  gits  sta'ted  f'om  dis  cheah 

I'  lay,  you  scamp,  I'll  mek  you  heah ! 

To-morrer  mo'nin'  I  kin  bawl 

Twell  all  de  neighbohs  hyeah  me  call; 
An'  you'll  be  snoozin'  des  ez  deep 

Ez  if  de  day  was  made  fu'  sleep; 
Hit's  funny  when  you  got  a  cough 

Somehow  yo'  voice  seems  too  fu'  off — 
Can't  wake  dat  boy  fu'  all  I  say, 

I  reckon  he'll  sleep  daih  twell  day! 

KIDNAPED 

T  HELD  my  heart  so  far  from  harm, 
•■-     I  let  it  wander  far  and  free 
In  mead  and  mart,  without  alarm. 
Assured  it  must  come  back  to  me. 

59 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

And  all  went  well  till  on  a  day, 
Learned  Dr.  Cupid  wandered  by 

A  search  along  our  sylvan  way 
For  some  peculiar  butterfly. 

A  flash  of  wings,  a  hurried  drive, 
A  flutter  and  a  short-lived  flit; 

This  Scientist,  as  I  am  alive 

Had  seen  my  heart  and  captured  it. 

Right  tightly  now  'tis  held  among 
The  specimens  that  he  has  trapped, 

And  sings  (Oh,  love  is  ever  young), 
Tis  passing  sweet  to  be  kidnaped. 


COMPENSATION 

BECAUSE  I  had  loved  so  deeply, 
Because  I  had  loved  so  long, 
God  in  His  great  compassion 
Gave  me  the  gift  of  song. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Because  I  have  loved  so  vainly, 
And  sung  with  such  faltering 
breath, 

The  Master  in  infinite  mercy 
Offers  the  boon  of  Death. 


WINTER'S  APPROACH 

DE  sun  hit  shine  an'  de  win'  hit  blow, 
or  Brer  Rabbit  be  a-layin'  low, 
He  know  dat  de  wintah  time  a-comin', 
De  huntah  man  he  walk  an'  wait, 
He  walk  right  by  Brer  Rabbit's  gate — 
He  know — 

De  dog  he  lick  his  sliverin'  chop, 

An'  he  tongue  'gin'  his  mouf  go  flop,  flop — 

He- 
He  rub  his  nose  fu'  to  clah  his  scent 
So's  to  tell  w'ich  way  dat  cotton-tail  went, 

He— 

6i 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

De  huntah's  wife  she  set  an'  spin 

A  good  wahm  coat  fu'  to  wrop  him  in 

She- 
She  look  at  de  skillet  an'  she  smile,  oh  my  I 
An'  ol'  Brer  Rabbit  got  to  sholy  fly. 

Dey  know. 


ANCHORED 

TF  thro'  the  sea  of  night  which  here  sur- 
^         rounds  me, 

I  could  swim  out  beyond  the  farthest  star, 
Break    every    barrier    of    circumstance    that 
bounds  me, 

And  greet  the  Sun  of  sweeter  life  afar, 

Tho'  near  you   there  is  passion,   grief,   and 
sorrow. 
And  out  there  rest  and  joy  and  peace  and  all, 
I    should    renounce    that    beckoning    for    to- 
morrow, 
I  could  not  choose  to  go  beyond  your  call. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


THE  VETERAN 

UNDERNEATH  the  autumn  sky, 
Haltingly,  the  lines  go  by. 
Ah,  would  steps  were  blithe  and  gay, 
As  when  first  they  marched  away, 
Smile  on  lip  and  curl  on  brow, — 
Only  white-faced  gray-beards  now, 
Standing  on  life's  outer  verge, 
E'en  the  marches  sound  a  dirge. 

Blow,  you  bugles,  play,  you  fife. 
Rattle,  drums,  for  dearest  life. 
Let  the  flags  wave  freely  so. 
As  the  marching  legions  go, 
Shout,  hurrah  and  laugh  and  jest, 
This  is  memory  at  its  best. 
(Did  you  notice  at  your  quip. 
That  old  comrade's  quivering  lip?) 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Ah,  I  see  them  as  they  come. 
Stumbling  with  the  rumbling  drum; 
But  a  sight  more  sad  to  me 
E'en  than  these  ranks  could  be 
Was  that  one  with  cane  upraised 
Who  stood  by  and  gazed  and  gazed. 
Trembling,  solemn,  lips  compressed, 
Longing  to  be  with  the  rest. 


Did  he  dream  of  old  alarms, 
As  he  stood,  "presented  arms"? 
Did  he  think  of  field  and  camp 
And   the   unremitting   tramp 
Mile  on  mile — the  lonely  guard 
When  he  kept  his  midnight  ward? 
Did  he  dream  of  wounds  and  scars 
In  that  bitter  war  of  wars? 

What  of  that?    He  stood  and  stands 
In   my   memory — trembling  hands, 
Whitened  beard  and  cane  and  all 
As  if  waiting  for  the  call 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Once  again :  "  To  arms,  my  sons," 
And  his  ears  hear  far-off  guns, 
Roll  of  cannon  and  the  tread 
Of  the  legions  of  the  Dead  I 


YESTERDAY  AND  TO-MORROW 

YESTERDAY  I  held  your  hand^ 
Reverently  I  pressed  it, 
And  its  gentle  yieldingness 
From  my  soul  I  blessed  it. 

But  to-day  I  sit  alone, 
Sad  and  sore  repining; 
Must  our  gold  forever  know 
Flames  for  the  refining? 

Yesterday  I  walked  with  you. 
Could  a  day  be  sweeter? 
Life  was  all  a  lyric  song 
Set  to  tricksy  meter. 

6s 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Ah,  to-day  is  like  a  dirge, — 
Place  my  arms  around  you, 
Let  me  feel  the  same  dear  joy 
As  when  first  I  found  you. 


Let  me  once  retrace  my  steps, 
From  these  roads  unpleasant. 
Let  my  heart  and  mind  and  soul 
All  ignore  the  present. 

Yesterday  the  iron  seared 
And  to-day  means  sorrow. 
Pause,  my  soul,  arise,  arise. 
Look  where  gleams  the  morrow. 


THE  CHANGE 

OVE  used  to  carry  a  bow,  you  know, 
-'         But  now  he  carries  a  taper; 
It  is  either  a  length  of  wax  aglow, 
Or  a  twist  of  lighted  paper. 
66 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I  pondered  a  little  about  the  scamp. 
And  then  I  decided  to  follow 

His  wandering  journey  to  field  and 
camp, 
Up  hill,  down  dale  or  hollow. 

I  dogged  the  rollicking,  gay,  young 
blade 
In  every  species  of  weather; 
Till,  leading  me  straight  to  the  home  of 
a  maid 
He  left  us  there  together. 

And  then  I  saw  it,  oh,  sweet  surprise. 

The  taper  it  set  a-burning 
The  love-light  brimming  my  lady's  eyes. 

And  my  heart  with  the  fire  of 
yearning. 


67 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


THE  CHASE 

THE  wind  told  the  little  leaves  to  hurry, 
And  chased  them  down  the  way, 
While  the  mother  tree  laughed  loud  in  glee, 
For  she  thought  her  babes  at  play. 

The  cruel  wind  and  the  rain  laughed  loudly, 
We'll  bury  them  deep,  they  said, 

And  the  old  tree  grieves,  and  the  little  leaves 
Lie  low,  all  chilled  and  dead. 


SUPPOSE 

IF  'twere  fair  to  suppose 
That  your  heart  were  not  taken, 
That  the  dew  from  the  rose 
Petals  still  were  not  shaken, 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I  should  pluck  you, 

Howe'er  you  should  thorn  me  and 
scorn  me, 
And  wear  you  for  life  as  the  green  of 
the  bower. 


If  'twere  fair  to  suppose 

That  that  road  was  for  vagrants, 
That  the  wind  and  the  rose, 

Counted   all  in  their  fragrance; 
Oh,  my  dear  one, 

By  love,   I   should  take  you  and 
make  you. 
The  green  of  my  life  from  the 
scintillant  hour. 


THE   DEATH    OF   THE    FIRST    BORN 

COVER  him  over  with  daisies  white, 
And  eke  with  the  poppies  red. 
Sit  with  me  here  by  his  couch  to-night, 
For  the  First-Born,  Love,  is  dead. 

69 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Poor  little  fellow,  he  seemed  so  fair 
As  he  lay  in  my  jealous  arms; 

Silent  and  cold  he  is  lying  there 
Stripped  of  his  darling  charms. 

Lusty   and   strong  he   had  grown 
forsooth. 
Sweet  with  an  infinite  grace. 
Proud  in  the  force  of  his  conquering 
youth, 
Laughter  alight  in  his  face. 

Oh,  but  the  blast,  it  was  cruel  and 
keen, 
And  ah,  but  the  chill  it  was  rare; 
The  look  of  the  winter-kissed  flow'r 
you've  seen 
When  meadows  and  fields  were 
bare. 

Can  you  not  wake  from  this  white, 
cold  sleep 
And  speak  to  me  once  again? 
70 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

True  that  your  slumber  is  deep,  so 
deep, 
But  deeper  by  far  Is  my  pain. 

Cover  him  over  with  daisies  white, 
And  eke  with  the  poppies  red. 

Sit  with  me  here  by  his  couch  to-night, 
For  the  First-Bom,  Love,  is  dead. 

BEIN'  BACK  HOME 

HOME  agin,  an*  home  to  stay — 
Yes,  it's  nice  to  be  away. 
Plenty  things  to  do  an'  see. 
But  the  old  place  seems  to  me 
Jest  about  the  proper  thing. 
Mebbe  'ts  'cause  the  mem'ries  cling 
Closer  'round  yore  place  o'  birth 
'N  ary  other  spot  on  earth. 

W'y  it's  nice  jest  settin'  here, 
Lookin'  out  an'  seein'  clear, 
'Thout  no  smoke,  ner  dust,  ner  haze 
In  these  sweet  October  days. 

71 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

What's  as  good  as  that  there  lane, 
Kind  o'  browned  from  last  night's 

rain? 
'Pears  like  home  has  got  the  start 
When  the  goal's  a  feller's  heart. 

What's  as  good  as  that  there  jay 
Screechin'  up'ards  towards  the  gray 
Skies?    An'  tell  me,  what's  as  fine 
As  that  full-leafed  pumpkin  vine? 
Tow'rin'  buildin's — yes,  they're  good; 
But  in  sight  o'  field  and  wood, 
Then  a  feller  understan's 
'Bout  the  house  not  made  with  han's. 

Let  the  others  rant  an'  roam 
When  they  git  away  from  home; 
Jest  gi'  me  my  old  settee 
An'  my  pipe  beneath  a  tree ; 
Sight  o'  medders  green  an'  still, 
Now  and  then  a  gentle  hill, 
Apple  orchards,  full  o'  fruit, 
Nigh  a  cider  press  to  boot — 
72 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

That's  the  thing  jest  done  up  brown; 
D'want  to  be  too  nigh  to  town; 
Want  to  have  the  smells  an'  sights, 
An'  the  dreams  o'  long  still  nights, 
With  the  friends  you  used  to  know: 
In  the  keerless  long  ago — 
Same  old  cronies,  same  old  folks. 
Same  old  cider,  same  old  jokes. 

Say,  it's  nice  a-gittin'  back, 
When  yore  pulse  is  growin'  slack. 
An'  yore  breath  begins  to  wheeze 
Like  a  fair-set  valley  breeze; 
Kind  o'  nice  to  set  aroun' 
On  the  old  familiar  groun', 
Knowin'  that  when  Death  does  come, 
That  he'll  find  you  right  at  home. 


I 


THE  OLD  CABIN 

N  de  dead  of  night  I  sometimes. 
Git  to  t'inkin'  of  de  pas' 

72> 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

An'  de  days  w'en  slavery  helt  me 
In  my  mis'ry — ha'd  an'  fas'. 

Dough  de  time  was  mighty  tryin', 
In  dese  houahs  somehow  hit  seem 

Dat  a  brightah  Hght  come  slippin' 
Thoo  de  kivahs  of  my  dream. 

An'  my  min'  fu'gits  de  whuppins 

Draps  de  feah  o'  block  an'  lash 
An'  flies  straight  to  somep'n'  joyful 

In  a  secon's  lightnin'  flash. 
Den  hit  seems  I  see  a  vision 

Of  a  dearah  long  ago 
Of  de  childern  tumblin'  roun'  me 

By  my  rough  ol'  cabin  do*. 

Talk  about  yo'  go'geous  mansions 

An'  yo'  big  house  great  an'  gran', 
Des  bring  up  de  fines'  palace 

Dat  you  know  in  all  de  Ian'. 
But  dey's  somep'n'  dearah  to  me, 

Somep'n'  faihah  to  my  eyes 
In  dat  cabin,  less  you  bring  me 

To  yo'  mansion  in  de  skies. 

74 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I  kin  see  de  light  a-shinin' 

Thoo  de  chinks  atween  de  logs, 
I  kin  hyeah  de  way-off  bayin' 

Of  my  mastah's  huntin'  dogs, 
An'  de  neighin'  of  de  hosses 

Stampin'  on  de  ol'  bahn  flo', 
But  above  dese  soun's  de  laughin' 

At  my  deah  ol'  cabin  do'. 

We  would  gethah  daih  at  evenin', 

All  my  frien's  'ud  come  erroun' 
An'  hit  wan't  no  time,  twell,  bless  you, 

You  could  hyeah  de  banjo's  soun'. 
You  could  see  de  dahkies  dancin' 

Pigeon  wing  an'  heel  an'  toe, — 
Joyous  times  I  tell  you  people 

Roun'  dat  same  ol'  cabin  do'. 

But  at  times  my  t'oughts  gits  saddah, 

Ez  I  riccolec'  de  folks, 
An'  dey  frolickin'  an'  talkin' 

Wid  dey  laughin'  an'  dey  jokes. 
An'  hit  hu'ts  me  w'en  I  membahs 

Dat  I'll  nevah  see  no  mo' 

75 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Dem  ah  faces  gethered  smilin' 
Roun'  dat  po'  ol'  .cabin  do'. 


DESPAIR 

T  ET  me  close  the  eyes  of  my  soul 
-*— '        That  I  may  not  see 
What  stands  between  thee  and  me. 

Let  me  shut  the  ears  of  my  heart 

That  I  may  not  hear 
A  voice  that  drowns  yours,  my  dear. 

Let  me  cut  the  cords  of  my  life, 

Of  my  desolate  being, 
Since  cursed  is  my  hearing  and  seeing. 


CIRCUMSTANCES  ALTER  CASES 

TIM  Murphy's  gon'  walkin'  wid  Maggie 
O'Neill, 

O  chone! 
If  I  was  her  muther,  I'd  frown  on  sich  foolin', 
O  chone! 

76 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I'm  sure  its  unmutherlike,  darin'  an'  wrong 
To  let  a  gyrul  hear  tell  the  sass  an'  the  song 
Of  every  young  felly  that  happens  along, 
O  chone! 

An'  Murphy,  the  things  that's  be'n  sed  of  his 
doin', 

O  chone ! 
'Tis  a  cud  that  no  dacent  folks  wants  to  be 
chewin', 

O  chone! 
If  he  came  to  my  door  wid  his  cane  on  a  twirl, 
Fur  to  thry  to  make  love  to  you,  Biddy,  my 

girl. 
Ah,  wouldn't  I  send  him  away  wid  a  whirl, 
O  chone! 

They  say  the  gossoon  is  indecent  and  dirty, 

O  chone ! 
In  spite  of  his  dressin'  so. 

O  chone! 
Let  him  dress  up  ez  foine  ez  a  king  or  a  queen, 
Let  him  put  on  more  wrinkles  than  ever  was 
seen, 

17 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

You'll  be  sure  he's  no  match  for  my  little 
colleen, 

O  chone! 


Faith  the  two  is  comin'  back  an'  their  walk  is 
all  over, 

O  chone! 
'Twas  a  pretty  short  walk  fur  to  take  wid  a 
lover, 

O  chone! 
Why,  I  believe  that  Tim  Murphy's  a  kumin' 

this  way, 
Ah,  Biddy  jest  look  at  him  steppin'  so  gay, 
I'd  niver  belave  what  the  gossipers  say, 
O  chone! 


He's  turned  in  the  gate  an'  he's  coming  a- 
caperin', 

O  chone! 
Go  Biddy,  go  quick  an'  put  on  a  clane  apern, 

O  chone! 

78 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Be  quick  as  ye  kin  fur  he's  right  at  the  dure ; 
Come  in,  master  Tim,  fur  ye're  welcome  I'm 

shure. 
We  were  talkin'  o'  ye  jest  a  minute  before. 
O  chone! 


TILL  THE  WIND  GETS  RIGHT 

/^H  the  breeze  is  blowin'  balmy 
^^     And  the  sun  is  in  a  haze; 
There's  a  cloud  jest  givin'  coolness, 

To  the  laziest  of  days. 
There  are  crowds  upon  the  lakeside. 

But  the  fish  refuse  to  bite, 
So  I'll  wait  and  go  a-fishin' 

When  the  wind  gets  right. 

Now  my  boat  tugs  at  her  anchor, 
Eager  now  to  kiss  the  spray. 

While  the  little  waves  are  callin' 
Drowsy  sailor  come  away, 

79 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

There's  a  harbor  for  the  happy, 
And  its  sheen  is  just  in  sight, 

But  I  won't  set  sail  to  get  there, 
Till  the  wind  gets  right. 

That's  my  trouble,  too,  I  reckon, 

I've  been  waitin'  all  too  long, 
Tho'  the  days  were  always 

Still  the  wind  is  always  wrong. 
An'  when  Gabriel  blows  his  trumpet, 

In  the  day  o'  in  the  night, 
I  will  still  be  found  waitin', 

Till  the  wind  gets  right. 

A  SUMMER   NIGHT 

QUMMAH  is  de  lovin'  time — 
^    Do'  keer  what  you  say. 
Night  is  alius  peart  an'  prime, 

Bettah  dan  de  day. 
Do  de  day  is  sweet  an'  good. 

Birds  a-singin'  fine, 
Pines  a-smellin'  in  de  wood, — 

But  de  night  is  mine. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Rivah  whisperin'  "  howdy  do," 

Ez  it  pass  you  by — 
Moon  a-lookin'  down  at  you, 

Winkin'  on  de  sly. 
Frogs  a-croakin'  f'om  de  pon', 

Singin'  bass  dey  fill, 
An'  you  listen  way  beyon' 

or  man  whippo'will. 


Hush  up,  honey,  tek  my  han', 

Mek  yo'  footsteps  light; 
Somep'n'  kin'  o'  hoi's  de  Ian' 

On  a  summah  night. 
Somep'n'  dat  you  nevah  sees 

An'  you  nevah  hyeahs, 
But  you  feels  it  in  de  breeze, 

Somep'n'  nigh  to  teahs. 

Somep'n'  nigh  to  teahs?  dat's  so; 

But  hit's  nigh  to  smiles. 
An'  you  feels  it  ez  you  go 

Down  de  shinin'  miles. 
8i 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Tek  my  han',  my  little  dove; 

Hush  an'  come  erway — 
Summah  is  de  time  fu'  love, 

Night-time  beats  de  day! 

AT   SUNSET  TIME 

A    DOWN  the  west  a  golden  glow 
•^  ^     Sinks  burning  in  the  sea, 
And  all  the  dreams  of  long  ago 

Come  flooding  back  to  me. 
The  past  has  writ  a  story  strange 

Upon   my  aching  heart, 
But  time  has  wrought  a  subtle  change, 

My  wounds  have  ceased  to  smart. 

No  more  the  quick  delight  of  youth, 

No  more  the  sudden  pain, 
I  look  no  more  for  trust  or  truth 

Where  greed  may  compass  gain. 
What,  was  it  I  who  bared  my  heart 

Through  unrelenting  years, 
And  knew  the  sting  of  misery's  dart, 

The  tang  of  sorrow's  tears? 
82 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

'Tis  better  now,  I  do  not  weep, 

I  do  not  laugh  nor  care ; 
My  soul  and  spirit  half  asleep 

Drift  aimless  everywhere. 
We  float  upon  a  sluggish  stream, 

We  ride  no  rapids  mad, 
While  life  is  all  a  tempered  dream 

And  every  joy  half  sad. 


NIGHT 

QILENCE,  and  whirling  worlds  afar 
^     Through  all  encircling  skies. 
What  floods  come  o'er  the  spirit's  bar. 
What  wondrous  thoughts  arise. 

The  earth,  a  mantle  falls  away, 
And,  winged,  we  leave  the  sod ; 

Where  shines  in  its  eternal  sway 
The  majesty  of  God. 


83 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


AT  LOAFING-HOLT 

SINCE  I  left  the  city's  heat 
For  this  sylvan,  cool  retreat, 
High  upon  the  hill-side  here 
Where  the  air  is  clean  and  clear, 
I  have  lost  the  urban  ways. 
Mine  are  calm  and  tranquil  days, 
Sloping  lawns  of  green  are  mine. 
Clustered  treasures  of  the  vine; 
Long  forgotten  plants  I  know, 
Where  the  best  wild  berries  grow. 
Where  the  greens  and  grasses  sprout, 
When  the  elders  blossom  out. 
Now  I  am  grown  weather-wise 
With  the  lore  of  winds  and  skies. 
Mine  the  song  whose  soft  refrain 
Is  the  sigh  of  summer  rain. 
Seek  you  where  the  woods  are  cool. 
Would  you  know  the  shady  pool 

84 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Where,  throughout  the  lazy  day, 
Speckled  beauties  drowse  or  play? 
Would  you  find  in  rest  or  peace 
Sorrow's  permanent  release? — 
Leave  the  city,  grim  and  gray. 
Come  with  me,  ah,  come  away. 
Do  you  fear  the  winter  chill, 
Deeps  of  snow  upon  the  hill? 
'Tis  a  mantle,  kind  and  warm. 
Shielding  tender  shoots  from  harm. 
Do  you  dread  the  ice-clad  streams,— 
They  are  mirrors  for  your  dreams. 
Here's  a  rouse,  when  summer's  past 
To  the  raging  winter's  blast. 
Let  him  roar  and  let  him  rout, 
We  are  armored  for  the  bout. 
How  the  logs  are  glowing,  see! 
Who  sings  louder,  they  or  he? 
Could  the  city  be  more  gay? 
Bum  your  bridges !    Come  away ! 


85 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


WHEN  A  FELLER'S  ITCHIN'  TO  BE 
SPANKED 

"fT  7"EN  us  fellers  stomp  around,  makin'  lots 
^  ^       o'  noise, 
Gramma  says,  "  There's  certain  times  comes 

to  little  boys 
Wen  they  need  a  shingle  or  the  soft  side  of 

a  plank ; " 
She  says  "  we're  a-itchin'   for  a  right  good 
spank." 

An'  she  says,  "  Now  thes  you  wait, 
It's  a-comin' — soon  or  late. 
Wen  a  fellers  itchin'  fer  a  spank." 

Wen  a  feller's  out  o'  school,  you  know  how  he 

feels, 
Gramma  says  we  wriggle  'roun  like  a  lot  o' 

eels. 
Wy  it's  like  a  man  that's  thes  home  from  out 

o'  jail. 

86 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

What's  the  use  o'  scoldin'  if  we  pull  Tray's 
tail? 

Gramma  says,  tho',  "  thes  you  wait, 

It's  a-comin' — soon  or  late, 
You'se  the  boys  that's  itchin'  to  be  spanked." 

Cats  is  funny  creatures  an'  I  like  to  make  'em 

yowl, 
Gramma  alwus  looks  at  me  with  a  awful  scowl 
An'    she    says,    "  Young   gentlemen,    mamma 

should  be  thanked 
Ef  you'd  get  your  knickerbockers  right  well 

spanked." 

An'  she  says,  "  Now  thes  you  wait, 
It's  a-comin' — soon  or  late," 
Wen  a  feller's  itchin'  to  be  spanked. 

Ef   you   fin'   the   days   is   gettin'   awful   hot 

in  school 
An'  you  know  a  swimmin'  place  where  it's  nice 

and  cool, 
Er  you  know  a  cat-fish  hole  brimmin'  full  o' 

fish. 
Whose  a-goin'  to  set  around  school  and  wish  ? 

87 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

'Tain't  no  use  to  hide  your  bait. 
It's  a-comin' — soon  or  late, 
Wen  a  feller's  itchin'  to  be  spanked. 

or    folks    know    most    ever'thing    'bout    the 

world,  I  guess, 
Gramma  does,  we  wish  she  knowed  thes  a 

little  less, 
But  I  alwus  kind  o'  think  it  'ud  be  as  well 
Ef  they  wouldn't  alwus  have  to  up  an'  tell; 
We  kids  wish  'at  they'd  thes  wait. 
It's  a-comin' — soon  or  late, 
Wen  a  feller's  itchin'  to  be  spanked. 


THE  RIVER  OF  RUIN 

ALONG  by  the  river  of  ruin 
They  dally — the  thoughtless  ones, 
They  dance  and  they  dream 
By  the  side  of  the  stream. 
As  long  as  the  river  runs. 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

It  seems  all  so  pleasant  and  cheery — 
No  thought  of  the  morrow  is  theirs, 
And  their  faces  are  bright 
With  the  sun  of  delight, 
And  they  dream  of  no  night-brooding 
cares. 

The  women  wear  garlanded  tresses. 
The  men  have  rings  on  their  hands. 
And  they  sing  in  their  glee. 
For  they  think  they  are  free — 
They  that  know  not  the  treacherous  sands. 

Ah,  but  this  be  a  venturesome  journey, 

Forever  those  sands  are  ashrift. 

And  a  step  to  one  side 

Means  a  grasp  of  the  tide. 

And  the  current  is  fearful  and  swift. 

For  once  in  the  river  of  ruin, 

What  boots  it,  to  do  or  to  dare, 

For  down  we  must  go 

In  the  turbulent  flow, 

To  the  desolate  sea  of  Despair. 

89 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


TO  HER 

"\7'0UR  presence  like  a  benison  to  me 
■*•       Wakes  my  sick  soul  to  dreamful 
ecstasy, 
I  fancy  that  some  old  Arabian  night 
Saw  you  my  houri  and  my  heart's  delight. 

And  wandering  forth  beneath  the  passionate 
moon, 
Your   love-strung   zither   and   my   soul   in 
tune, 
We  knew  the  joy,  the  haunting  of  the  pain 
That  like  a  flame  thrills  through  me  now 
again. 

To-night  we  sit  where  sweet  the  spice  winds 
blow, 
A  wind  the  northland  lacks  and  ne'er  shall 
know, 
With  clasped  hands  and  spirits  all  aglow 
As  in  Arabia  in  the  long  ago. 
90 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


A  LOVE  LETTER 

OH,  I  des  received  a  letter  f'om  de  sweetest 
little  gal ; 

Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 
She's  my  lovely  little  sweetheart  an'  her  name 
is  Sal: 

Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 

She  writes  me  dat  she  loves  me  an'  she  loves 
me  true, 
She  wonders  ef  I'll  tell  huh  dat  I   loves 
huh,  too; 
An'  my  heaht's   so  full  o'  music  dat  I  do' 
know  what  to  do; 
Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 

I  got  a  man  to  read  it  an'  he  read  it  fine; 

Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 
Dey  ain'  no  use  denying  dat  her  love  is  mine; 

Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 

91 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

But  hyeah's  de  t'ing  dat's  puttin'  me  in  such 

a  awful  plight, 
I  t'ink  of  huh  at  mornin'  an'  I  dream  of  huh 

at  night; 
But  how's  I  gwine  to  cou't  huh  w'en  I  do' 

know  how  to  write? 
Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 

My  heaht  is  bubblin'  ovah  wid  de  t'ings  I 
want  to  say; 

Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 
An'  dey's  lots  of  folks  to  copy  what  I  tell  'em 
f u'  de  pay ; 

Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 
But  dey's  t'ings  dat  I's  a-t'inkin'  dat  is  only 

fu'  huh  ears, 
An'  I  couldn't  lu'n  to  write  'em  ef  I  took  a 

dozen  years; 
So  to  go  down  daih  an'  tell  huh  is  de  only 
way,  it  'pears; 

Oh,  my;  oh,  my. 


92 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


AFTER  MANY  DAYS 

T'VE  always  been  a  faithful  man 
-■-     An'  tried  to  live  for  duty, 
But  the  stringent  mode  of  life 
Has  somewhat  lost  its  beauty. 

The  story  of  the  generous  bread 

He  sent  upon  the  waters, 
Which  after  many  days  returns 

To  trusting  sons  and  daughters, 

Had  oft  impressed  me,  so  I  want 

My  soul  influenced  by  it, 
And  bought  a  loaf  of  bread  and  sought 

A  stream  where  I  could  try  it. 

I  cast  my  bread  upon  the  waves 
And  fancied  then  to  await  it; 

It  had  not  floated  far  away 

When  a  fish  came  up  and  ate  it. 

93 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

And  if  I  want  both  fish  and  bread, 
And  surely  both  I'm  wanting, 

About  the  only  way  I  see 
Is  for  me  to  go  fishing. 


LIZA  MAY 

IITTLE  brown  face  full  of  smiles, 
-^     And  a  baby's  guileless  wiles, 
Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

Eyes  a-peeping  thro'  the  fence 
With   an   interest   intense, 
Liza  May. 

Ah,  the  gate  is  just  ajar, 
And  the  meadow  is  not  far, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

And  the  road  feels  very  sweet, 
To  your  little  toddling  feet, 
Liza  May. 

94 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Ah,  you   roguish   runaway, 
What  will  toiling  mother  say, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May? 

What  care  you  who  smile  to  greet 
Ever>^one  you  chance  to  meet, 
Liza  May? 

Soft  the  mill-race  sings  its  song, 
Just  a  little  way  along, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

But  the  song  is  full  of  guile. 
Turn,  ah  turn,  your  steps  the  while, 
Liza  May. 

You  have  caught  the  gleam  and  glow 
Where  the  darkling  waters  flow, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

Flash  of  ripple,  bend  of  bough. 
Where  are  all  the  angels  now? 
Liza  May. 

95 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Now  a  mother's  eyes  intense 
Gazing  o'er  a  shabby  fence, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 


Then  a  mother's  anguished  face 
Peering  all  around  the  place, 
Liza  May. 

Hear  the  agonizing  call 
For  a  mother's  all  in  all, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

Hear  a  mother's  maddened  prayer 
To  the  calm  unanswering  air, 
Liza  May. 

What's  become  of — Liza  May? 
What  has  darkened  all  the  day? 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

Ask  the  waters  dark  and  fleet, 
If  they  know  the  smiling,  sweet 
Liza  May. 

96 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Call  her,  call  her  as  you  will, 
On  the  meadow,  on  the  hill, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

Through  the  brush  or  beaten  track 
Echo  only  gives  you  back, 
Liza  May. 

Ah,  but  you  were  loving — sweet, 
On  your  little  toddling  feet, 

Liza  May,  Liza  May. 

But  through  all  the  coming  years. 
Must  a  mother  breathe  with  tears, 
Liza  May. 


THE  MASTERS 

/^H,  who  is  the  Lord  of  the  land  of  life, 
^^     When  hotly  goes  the  fray? 
When,  fierce  we  smile  in  the  midst  of  strife 
Then  whom  shall  we  obey? 

97 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Oh,  Love  is  the  Lord  of  the  land  of  Hfe 
Who  holds  a  monarch's  sway; 

He  wends  with  wish  of  maid  and  wife. 
And  him  you  must  obey. 

Then  who  is  the  Lord  of  the  land  of  life, 

At  setting  of  the  sun? 
Whose  word  shall  sway  when  Peace  is  rife 

And  all  the  fray  is  done? 

Then  Death  is  the  Lord  of  the  land  of  life. 

When  your  hot  race  is  run. 
Meet  then  his  scythe  and  pruning-knife 

When  the  fray  is  lost  or  won. 


TROUBLE  IN  DE  KITCHEN 

DEY  was  oncet  a  awful  quoil  'twixt  de 
skillet  an'  de  pot; 
De  pot  was  des  a-bilin'  an'   de  skillet  sho' 
was  hot. 

98 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Dey  slurred  each  othah's  colah  an'  dey  called 

each  othah  names, 
Wile  de  coal-oil  can  des  gu-gled,  po'in  oil 

erpon  de  flames. 


De  pot,  hit  called  de  skillet  des  a  flat,  disfig- 

gered  t'ing. 
An'  de  skillet  'plied  dat  all  de  pot  could  do 

was  set  an'  sing, 
An'  he  'lowed  dat  dey  was  'lusions  dat  he 

wouldn't  stoop  to  mek 
'Case  he  reckemize  his  juty,  an'  he  had  too 

much  at  steak. 


Well,  at  dis  de  pot  biled  ovah,  case  his  tempah 

gittin'  highah. 
An'  de  skillet  got  to  sputterin',  den  de  fat 

was  in  de  fiah. 
Mistah   fiah   lay   daih   smokin'   an'   a-t'inkin' 

to  hisse'f, 
Wile  de  peppah-box  us  nudgin'  of  de  gingah 

on  de  she'f. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Den  dey  all  des  lef  hit  to  'im,  'bout  de  trouble 

an'  de  talk ; 
An'  howevah  he  decided,  w'y  dey  bofe  'u'd 

walk  de  chalk; 
But  de  fiah  uz  so  'sgusted  how  dey  quoil  an' 

dey  shout 
Dat  he  cooled   'em  off,   I   reckon,  w'en  he 

puffed  an'  des  went  out. 

THE  QUILTING 

DOLLY    sits    a-quilting    by    her   mother, 
stitch  by  stich, 
Gracious,    how   my    pulses    throb,    how    my 

fingers  itch, 
.While  I  note  her  dainty  waist  and  her  slender 

hand, 
As  she  matches  this  and  that,   she   stitches 

strand  by  strand. 
And  I  long  to  tell  her  Life's  a  quilt  and  I'm 

a  patch; 
Love  will  do  the  stitching  if  she'll  only  be  my 

match. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


PARTED 

OHE  wrapped  her  soul  in  a  lace  of  lies, 
^     With  a  prime  deceit  to  pin  it; 
And  I  thought  I  was  gaining  a  fearsome  prize, 
So  I  staked  my  soul  to  win  it. 

We  wed  and  parted  on  her  complaint, 

And  both  were  a  bit  of  barter, 
Tho'  I'll  confess  that  I'm  no  saint, 

I'll  swear  that  she's  no  martyr. 


FOREVER 

T  HAD  not  known  before 
•*■     Forever  was  so  long  a  word. 
The  slow  stroke  of  the  clock  of  time 
I  had  not  heard. 

lOI 


L^tIcs  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

'Tis  hard  to  learn  so  late; 

It  seems  no  sad  heart  really  learns, 
But  hopes  and  trusts  and  doubts  and 
fears, 

And  bleeds  and  burns. 

The  night  is  not  all  dark. 
Nor  is  the  day  all  it  seems. 

But  each  may  bring  me  this  relief — 
My  dreams  and  dreams. 

I  had  not  known  before 

That  Never  was  so  sad  a  word, 
So  wrap  me  in  forgetfulness — 

I  have  not  heard. 


CHRISTMAS 

OTEP  wid  de  banjo  an'  glide  wid  de  fiddle, 

^     Dis  ain'  no  time  fu'  to  pottah  an'  piddle ; 

Fu'  Christmas  is  comin',  it's  right  on  de  way, 

An'  dey's  houahs  to  dance  'fo'  de  break  o' 

de  day. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

What  if  de  win'  is  taihin'  an'  whistlin'? 
Look    at    dat    fiah    how    hit's    spittin'    an' 
bristHn' ! 
Heat  in  de  ashes  an'  heat  in  de  cindahs, 
or    mistah    Fros'    kin   des    look    thoo    de 
windahs. 


Heat  up  de  toddy  an'  pas'  de  wa'm  glasses, 
Don'  stop  to  shivah  at  blowin's  an'  blas'es, 

Keep  on  de  kittle  an'  keep  it  a-hummin', 
Eat  all  an'  drink  all,  dey's  lots  mo'  a-comin'. 

Look  hyeah,  Maria,  don't  open  dat  oven. 
Want  all  dese  people  a-pushin'  an'  shovin'? 


Res'  f'om  de  dance?    Yes,  you  done  cotch 
dat  odah. 
Mammy  done  cotch  it,  an'  law!  hit  nigh 
flo'd  huh ; 
'Possum  is  monst'ous  fu'  mekin'  folks  fin'  it ! 
Come,  draw  yo'  cheers  up,  I's  sho'  I  do' 
min'  it. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

Eat    up    dem    critters,    you    men    folks    an* 
wimmens, 
'Possums    ain'    skace    w'en    dey's    lots    o' 
pu'simmons. 


ROSES  AND  PEARLS 

"VTOUR  spoken  words  are  roses  fine  and 

■*■      sweet, 
The   songs   you   sing   are   perfect   pearls   of 

sound. 
How  lavish  nature  is  about  your  feet. 
To  scatter  flowers  and  jewels  both  around. 

Blushing  the  stream  of  petal  beauty  flows, 
Softly   the   white   strings   trickle   down   and 

shine. 
Oh !  speak  to  me,  my  love,  I  crave  a  rose. 
Sing  me  a  song,  for  I  would  pearls  were  mine. 


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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


RAIN-SONGS 

THE  rain  streams  down  like  harp-strings 
from  the  sky; 
The  wind,  that  world-old  harpist,  sitteth  by ; 
And  ever  as  he  sings  his  low  refrain. 

He  plays  upon  the  harp-strings  of  the  rain. 


A  LOST  DREAM 

AH,  I  have  changed,  I  do  not  know 
Why  lonely  hours  affect  me  so. 
In  days  of  yore,  this  were  not  wont, 
No  loneliness  my  soul  could  daunt. 

For  me  too  serious  for  my  age, 
The  weighty  tome  of  hoary  sage, 
Until  with  puzzled  heart  astir, 
One  God-giv'n  night,  I  dreamed  of  her. 

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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

I  loved  no  woman,  hardly  knew 
More  of  the  sex  that  strong  men  woo 
Than  cloistered  monk  within  his  cell; 
But  now  the  dream  is  lost,  and  hell 

Holds  me  her  captive  tight  and  fast 
Who  prays  and  struggles  for  the  past. 
No  living  maid  has  charmed  my  eyes. 
But  now,  my  soul  is  wonder-wise. 

For  I  have  dreamed  of  her  and  seen 
Her  red-brown  tresses,  ruddy  sheen, 
Have  known  her  sweetness,  lip  to  lip. 
The  joy  of  her  companionship. 

When  days  were  bleak  and  winds  were  rude, 
She  shared  my  smiling  solitude. 
And  all  the  bare  hills  walked  with  me 
To  hearken  winter's  melody. 

And  when  the  spring  came  o'er  the  land 
We  fared  together  hand  in  hand 
Beneath  the  linden's  leafy  screen 
That  waved  above  us  faintly  green. 
1 06 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 

In  summer,  by  the  river-side, 
Our  souls  were  kindred  with  the  tide 
That  floated  onward  to  the  sea 
As  we  swept  toward  Eternity. 

The  bird's  call  and  the  water's  drone 
Were  all  for  us  and  us  alone. 
The  water-fall  that  sang  all  night 
Was  her  companion,  my  delight. 

And  e'en  the  squirrel,  as  he  sped 
Along  the  branches  overhead, 
Half  kindly  and  half  envious, 
Would  chatter  at  the  joy  of  us. 

'Twas  but  a  dream,  her  face,  her  hair, 
The  spring-time  sweet,  the  winter  bare. 
The  summer  when  the  woods  we  ranged,- 
'Twas  but  a  dream,  but  all  is  changed. 

Yes,  all  is  changed  and  all  has  fled. 
The  dream  is  broken,  shattered,  dead. 
And  yet,  sometimes,  I  pray  to  know 
How  just  a  dream  could  hold  me  so. 
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Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


A    SONG 

/^N  a  summer's  day  as  I  sat  by  a  stream, 

^^     A  dainty  maid  came  by, 

And  she  blessed  my  sight  Hke  a  rosy  dream, 
And  left  me  there  to  sigh,  to  sigh. 
And  left  me  there  to  sigh,  to  sigh. 

On  another  day  as  I  sat  by  the  stream, 
This  maiden  paused  a  while. 

Then  I  made  me  bold  as  I  told  my  dream, 
She  heard  it  with  a  smile,  a  smile. 
She  heard  it  with  a  smile,  a  smile. 

Oh,  the  months  have  fled  and  the  autumn's 
red, 
The  maid  no  more  goes  by  ; 
For  my  dream  came  true  and  the  maid  I  wed. 
And  now  no  more  I  sigh,  I  sigh, 
And  now  no  more  I  sigh. 
1 08 


Lyrics  of  Sunshine  and  Shadow 


A   SONG 

THOU  art  the  soul  of  a  summer's  day, 
Thou  art  the  breath  of  the  rose. 
But  the  summer  is  fled 
And  the  rose  is  dead 
Where  are  they  gone,  who  knows,  who  knows  ? 

Thou  art  the  blood  of  my  heart  o'  hearts. 
Thou  art  my  soul's  repose, 

But  my  heart  grows  numb 

And  my  soul  is  dumb 
Where  art  thou,  love,  who  knows,  who  knows  ? 

Thou  art  the  hope  of  my  after  years — 
Sun  for  my  winter  snows 

But  the  years  go  by 

'Neath  a  clouded  sky. 
Where  shall  we  meet,  who  knows,  who  knows  ? 


109 


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